Upcoming Contraction in Global Grain Exports Still Expected

By Jeffrey Landsberg

As we discussed in Commodore Research's most recent Weekly Executive Report,The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released its latest forecast for the 2026/27 season and is predicting that global coarse grain, wheat, soybean, and soymeal exports will total 746.3 million tons.  This is 1.4 million tons  more than the USDA predicted a month ago — but it is 22.6 million tons (-3%) less than is expected for the 2025/26 season.  The forecast is still very preliminary, but a year-on-year decline in exports would be a headwind for our market. Compared to the 706 million tons of grain that was shipped during the 2024/25  season, however, 746.3 million tons — if actually shipped — would mark an increase   of 40.3 million tons (6%).   Overall, 746.3 million tons represents an impressive amount of grain to be shipped, but it is less than the incredible 768.9 million tons that is now estimated for the 2025/26 season.

The USDA is forecasting that global coarse grain exports in 2026/27 will total 253.5 million tons.  This would mark a year-on-year decline of 14.7 million tons (-5%) from the 2025/26 season.  Coarse grain exports will remain the global grain market’s largest cargo by volume.  Moderate year-on-year declines in coarse grain exports are expected from the United States and Argentina.  A small year-on-year decline is expected from Ukraine.  A small year-on-year increase is expected from Brazil.